Info

‘. . . it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all his employees’.

The term „employees‟ is further defined as including volunteers and members of the public who are present in relation to that business. In the case of a youth club, this might be determined as including all youth workers, whether paid or not, and the people attending the youth club.

It is also the responsibility of every person to take reasonable care of their own and other people’s health and safety

This extends to:

the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health

The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees

the provision and maintenance of a working environment that is safe and without risk to health

Health and Safety Policy Statement

Our statement of general policy is:

adhere to the health and safety policy of the premises

adhere to the fire regulations of the premises

to provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising out of our activities

to carry out risk assessments on all activities both inside and outside the club

to consult with our trustees, advisory group, members and staff on matters affecting their health and safety.

to provide and maintain safe plant and equipment

to ensure safe handling and use of substances

to provide information, instruction and supervision for leaders and helpers.

to ensure all leaders and helpers are competent to do their tasks

to give adequate training.

to prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health

to maintain safe and healthy working conditions

to review and revise this policy as necessary at regular intervals

October 2015

To be reviewed annually

Testimonials

Creative Writing .....

Young people attending the group have written about coming out.

This is all good. I tell myself.

I haven’t spoken to him in years, I wont have to speak to him again, him, his girlfriend, his kids, his family. I wont have to speak to my dad, my step mum, my step sisters and brothers, my brother, my family. ‘Happy birthday. I am trans-gender. I like girls and boys. You cant change me.’ This is all good. I tell myself. Its not good, its really not good. He didn’t need to know. Why did I tell him? I didn’t need to. He would never know and they would’ve never known.

These aren’t my family anymore.

Happy birthday dad.

Well. Not so happy.

(A young trans person coming out to their dad on his birthday)

Coming out Haiku

You think I’ve changed, but really I’m the same, always was I can just live now

Personal account of ‘coming out’

I haven’t properly come out to my parents yet, about how I’m not the daughter they thought I was, or how I’m not the son I could have been. I think they know. To me, my identity is everything and nothing. It means I can live as myself – but also doesn’t stop me from living. Sometimes I struggle, but in the end, I realise nothing will really change.

(A young trans person trying to come to terms with their identity)

“You can’t honestly be serious Talon” his mother sighed and held her head in her hands. The dim kitchen light flickered slightly brighter revealing the poor boys face.

He was shaking badly, large salty tears falling out of his eyes and onto the tiled floor. The open letter lay discarded at the opposite of the table from where his mother had thrown it.

“I” Talon paused, he could take it all back, pretend its some crude and fucked up joke. A joke told specifically to upset and anger people. He could take it back and be safe. Well, safer than he would be if he came out.

“Well? Are you a fag or not?” His mother snapped and threw her hands in the air causing her son to flinch and step back.

Again he paused, last chance. Last chance to stay safe, to stay happy. He wanted to deny it, fear makes you do stupid and harmful things.

“Yes. I’m sorry” he sobbed, his emotions finally breaking through and revealing his true nature. He was just a scared boy. A sad, scared and lonely gay boy.

(A young person who wanted to write a fictional account of their coming out)

Chipped

Bitten

Fingernails

Shake

And

Shiver

Steps

Echo

Lungs

Burn

And

Ache

Mouth

Opens

Silence

Breaks

(A young gay person choosing to write a poem about coming out)

I start my story back when I was 13. I already knew I was bisexual but was afraid to come out. I know my parents have known since I was 3. Finally, my friend came out and had a positive response. I told her first before letting my best friend know. As I knew my parents already knew, I decided to come out publicly via a cover photo on Facebook, using the bisexual flag stating “I am neither gay or straight, I like to swing both ways”

Roughly 6 months later, I had come to understand fully that I was transgender.

I knew my parents would initially object as they had little understanding as to what being transgender is. I decided to come out using Facebook yet again, this time as a status, roughly 2 paragraphs long, before texting my parents. This way, I had come out publicly and they couldn’t smooth it over. My parents finally got home and called me downstairs. I’d been rehearsing as much of trans and gender facts but that flew away after my dad sat me down on the sofa and yelled, mostly about timing etc. but I can’t remember just what he spoke about I was more focused on trying to stop crying. He thought it would be for shock factor. He didn’t accept for 8 months. Stubbornness pays. Don’t give up because of a bad coming out story.

(A young trans person’s coming out story)

One

New face, new me, new you

Open minds walk into open arms

Learning names and brains

A file of data stashed

In memories of laughs

Two

Lost love locked in by

Words and taunts

Bitter transition of brains and names

Change echos with

Irony of chance

Three

Hearts shout anger and hate

Clouding confused brains and names

Introspection of dull bleary thoughts

Jealous painted rage

Four

Unbeknownst to us

Vials of repressed emotion

As we fall differently in love

Platonic inhibition

Designated roles for

Decided names and hearts

Five

Potential unlocked

Throw away the box

Pet names, better brains, growing hearts

Open minds with open arms

Memories of laughter as

Breaking news reports

(A young trans person’s coming out poem, told over a period of five months)

I acme down to Cornwall with my mum and I started watching Trans videos on Youtube and kept on talking to a trans guy who ahd already come out to make sure I was trans. After thinking about it day in, day out… I said to my mum “I want surgery to be a boy” my mum said “really? It’s a long process!” I said “I know but I want it so bad. I want a flat chest and a dick.” My mum was trying to process it so she could message my dad and ring him.

6 months later…

My dad moved to Cornwall with us and we talked about it more and they took it serious. My mum finally took me to the doctors and I got a referral for GIDS. I told my mum in 2016 and came out in 2017 at Easter. So I have been out a year and 4 months. And I have a GIDS appointment in September.

(A young trans person’s coming out story)

Coming out

Courage to say it out loud

Obituary for the person that never was

My life, my way

In tears from unacceptance

No choice!

Going mad, my head’s in a whirl

Obsessive conversations taking over my life

Uneducated people who don’t want to learn

Truth at last, this is me!

Why does it Matter?

Why does it matter if I’m this or that

Perhaps I should be that or this

But me… I feel that I am they

What difference should this make to you or them

I’m me, that’s who

Break the mould, there’s only one of me

My head is this

My boy is that

But I’m me

Whats wrong with me!

(Two poems by the mother of a young trans person)

Testimonials.....

Hi there, I’m 15 years old and I’m FTM Trans man.

I came out earlier this year around January, February time; just after my 15th birthday. All through my life I grew up with having all boys for friends, I went in the boys bathrooms at primary school, I’d wear boy’s uniform to school, trunks when I went swimming. What I could never understand is why I felt so out of place and uncomfortable in the girl’s bathrooms. One of the teachers when I was about 5 or 6 told me I couldn’t go in the boys anymore, I had to go in the girls, this was a task so my solution was to go when everyone was either in class or outside playing so no one would see me in the girls bathroom. School showed me gender roles and what boys and girls “should” be like. This would complicate things allot because when they say split into boys and girls for team games in like sport for example I’d just be there like, which side do I go on. I would get so confused and upset. This is before I knew anything about what transgender was. I felt quite alone to be honest.

When I was around 8, I thought right. Got to be a girl and do girl things, so I grew my hair out started to attempt wearing girl’s clothes, try to fit in more basically, puberty kind of pushed me towards having to do those things, I did this until I reached about, 13, 14 this is when I thought about what I would wear more. When people would describe me, tomboy, would be the word that was used. 14 was the age I came out as a lesbian, being attracted to girls was never something that I had been confused about really. After I came out I thought the thoughts for me being uncomfortable, angry and confused would stop. But they didn’t so I started again. I went on YouTube and read up allot about what I was feeling like and they all seemed to point to the same thing. Being transgender. My girlfriend at the time had a friend that was transgender so I and he talked and he told me about YAY, he told me to come along to one of the gender sessions. I did and I’m so glad I did. I got to talk to someone who had gone through their transition and others who were going through what I was going through, everyone was at a different stage in their transition. It helped me because I finally had something in real life I could interact with, people I could talk to and get real advise from. I had friends that understood what it was I was going through and that was the thing I think that made up my mind on who I was and gave me the confidence boost to do what made me happy. And their always there if I need help, someone to help guide me. Their only I quick phone call or Facebook message away when I need them.

Since I’ve been at YAY I’ve been to the gender identity clinic in Exeter and have had 2 appointment so far, 3rd one later this month. Hopefully at the end of this year I’ll be on hormone blockers and testosterone by the end of next year, fingers crossed.

There will always be people around that tell me that it’s a faze, or “I’m going to hell”, its discussing, a behaviour or an act but I’m not acting anymore I’m free from the fake smiles and uncomfortable feelings and anger at myself for who I am. As cliché as it sounds I wouldn’t be where I am today or as confident as I am without the whole team at YAY supporting me through my transition. They’re there to tell me those mean messages are wrong. I’m just really grateful their around.

Young Person 15 yrs old ... “YAY helped me discover who I was. It helped me to realise that there are other people going through similar things to me and helped me to come out to my friends and mum. At the moment YAY is the only place where I can truly be myself. YAY gave me the confidence and resources to come out to the psychologist I was seeing and pursue appointments at the gender identity clinic. YAY taught me it was ok to be who I am and let me meet other people who have experienced similar things to me and what I hope to experience in the future. Going to YAY gives me hope that I will be accepted and helps me feel less alone. It gives me courage to be myself. Before I was out to my friends and family I never felt truly alone because I had YAY. I use to have a lot of suicidal thoughts about being trans, but being able to be myself at YAY has lessened the intensity and frequency of these. Everyone at YAY is always helpful and they are son generous to give us their time it and it has definitely helped me and I know its helped others too.”

Andrew: The thing that hurts most is the feeling of aloneness. That there is no one that understands you. Heteronormality surrounds you. You feel trapped in a lie. This is why organisations such as LGBTQ Youth Cornwall are so valuable - I am not alone, and that is the best feeling ever. I haven't been going to Yay Cornwall for very long, but I already feel more comfortable in myself. The resources, advice and help from the workers and other attendees are invaluable.

A young man who attended a school drop day session with his class contacted us after the session and said:

'Thank you for the talk you did at our school it really helped some people realise, what people like me feel when names are shouted at us, I just wanted to email you saying that the talk we had after your presentation made me feel better and made me realise there is people out there that can help someone like my self.'

A young woman who has been attending the group for around 3 years provided a report on recient activities said:

'Being the oldest member who currently attends YAY I have always found it quite difficult to engage with the younger members due to the huge age gap, but the day helped bridge the gap between us and encouraged a new member to attend regular group sessions' 'I think, for some young people, going out as an LGBT person in public can sometimes be quite petrifying especially if homophobic remarks have been made towards them before but by going on these trips it has helped us to build up our confidence and stand united as a group, together.

A young gay man who we have been working with for over 3 years.

This young man first attended the group in 2009, aged 16 he was incredibly shy and hardly spoke in the meetings. The young man had been sexually abused at a young age and received little support from his family. He was receiving 1-1 support from the Intercom Trust and Healthy Gay Cornwall whilst attending the Yay Youth group.

Through years of confidence and self esteem building the young man expressed how he now felt like a completely different person. He had the confidence to look for work and apply for college courses which he said he wouldn’t have been able to do in the past. Part of him coming to YaY was to also meet with other LGBTQ young people and make some friends.

In 2012 the young man is now in a stable relationship and quotes “I couldn’t have done anything without the support of YAY, I owe them so much and appreciate everything they have done for me”.

He is now moving to Bristol with his partner to work towards his ambition to become a photographer.

Another young person has said:

'I remember being in school and just not fitting in with the other girls in my class, I just wasn’t interested in the boys like they were. As I grew older I started to worry about my sexuality, I started to question myself and I began to feel really anxious. I went to see a school counsellor because I was getting bullied at school and being called names. She was far from helpful and instead of empowering me decided to take the Freudian approach to determine if I was ‘gay’ or not! As time went on, so did the questioning and so did the bullying but I got through it and had some good friends who stood by me and just learnt to ignore the name calling and tried to just ignore my sexuality! It took me a long time a lot of confusion and a lot of courage and I decided to come out as Bisexual when I was 22, although most were accepting, some people were not as accepting as I had hoped and I was very careful who I told and that’s when I got involved with YAY.I was really nervous about going to YAY, would I fit in? Did I have to have a label? Would I be judged? It was amazing to meet other young people, to build up myself esteem and confidence which had been taken away from me from being bullied for so many years at school and to actually begin to feel a sense of pride about my sexuality. I learnt from others around me that actually its ok to be me and that i am OK. YAY not only supports me with LGBTQ stuff but also other issues that I have been facing, the Youth workers are amazing and are really supportive and I know I have somewhere and someone to turn to when things get tough to sign post me in the right direction or to be a listening ear when I need it.Off course, I still do sometimes question my sexuality but YAY has helped to realise that actually it doesn’t matter whether I am BI or Gay, that I don’t have to find myself a label and if choose to have on, I’m not stuck with that one label for life, that that one label does not define me but can become part of who I am and it’s about what I feel comfortable with and just to be proud of being me.And I am!

This young person was one of the first young people to come to the group and he stayed with us until he went to university he said:

When YAY started up I had only recently moved to Cornwall in order to do a college course. I was lacking in confidence and found it difficult making new friends. When I first started attending the YAY meetings, there were not many members (as it had just been set up), which gave me a chance to talk to more people my own age and make friends. I was able to talk to the people that ran the group about my issues I had with moving on my own and slowly began to build my confidence up. As time went and members increased, my confidence and friendships grew, as well as a feeling of being a part of something. Sadly when I finished my college course I had to move from Cornwall in order to do my degree course. However, the help in improving my confidence and the accepting environment, at YAY, has been crucial in giving me the confidence in myself and talking to new people both in my life in and outside university.

A 15 year old person has told us:

Before I came: Suicidal, not wanting to continue, Difference YAY made: helped me to deal with school (and still does), and pulled me back from the brink of suicide, The best thing about YAY: calm, listening, supportive, and helps me be who I really am.

We want to ensure that your needs are met, if you would like this information on audio tape, in Braille, large print, any other format or interpreted in a language other than English, please contact the Equality and Diversity Officer, Telephone: 0300 12340 100 or Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Purpose of Policy

To set out the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in Cornwall and how this will be implemented by LGBTQ Youth Cornwall in the discharge of its duties.

Policy Statement

This policy supports the development of procedures and good practice within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall, to ensure that each person and agency can demonstrate that there is an understanding of the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. It provides evidence of how this will be implemented within its own organisation and within multi-agency working arrangements.

This safeguarding policy:

shows how we intend to meet its safeguarding responsibilities promotes best practice within the organisation. reflects the national context of safeguarding and of current central Government expectations, is in line with, and in some cases exceeds, all elements of national Guidance, in order to provide uniformly high standards across the workforce and to place the organisation at the forefront of safeguarding good practice. provides a generic statement of values and key principles which demonstrates to all the commitment of the organisation broadly describes the activities in which we will be involved to meet its responsibilities. will be common to all member organisations of the LSCB, therefore providing for common approaches, training and understanding. sets a standard which LGBTQ Youth Cornwall will require all organisations with which it does relevant business to meet.

Policy Application

This policy applies to all members of staff of LGBTQ Youth Cornwall, trustees and volunteers and all those organisations who have a working relationship with the LGBTQ Youth Cornwall.

This policy is only effective when used in conjunction with the following internal documents

Dealing with Disclosures

Escalating Child Protection Concerns

Active Safeguarding within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall

Author

LSCB Performance Manager

Introduction - Safeguarding Children and Young People

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is as defined in Chapter 3 of the statutory guidance to the Children Act 2004, „Working Together to Safeguard Children‟, (DCSF 2006)

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall recognises that, under the Children Act 2004, it has a statutory duty to make arrangements to ensure all its functions are discharged, having regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Cornwall – this includes all services directly provided and those commissioned by the local authority.

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall subscribes to the „Statutory Guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004‟ www.everychildmatters.gov.uk in underpinning “work with individual children and their families” and the “monitoring and inspection of arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare”

“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children” means: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health or development; ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; Enabling them to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall aims to ensure that children in Cornwall achieve the five outcomes for children identified in the Children Act 2004.

The five outcomes are:

Be Healthy – physical and mental health and emotional well-being Stay Safe – prevention and protection from harm and neglect Enjoy and Achieve – education, training and recreation Make a positive contribution to society Achieve Economic and Social Well-being.

The following principles will underpin all of our work with children and young people. Our approach will be:

child centred rooted in child development support the achievement of best possible outcomes for children holistic in approach ensure equality of opportunity actively involve children and families build on strengths as well as identifying and addressing difficulties be multi/inter-agency in approach be a continuing process rather than an event be designed to identify and provide the service required, and to monitor the impact its provision has on a child‟s developmental progress be informed by evidence.

The Cornwall Children and Young People‟s Plan (2005 – 2008, Update 2006, revised 2009) describes the strategic priorities that member agencies will address in relation to the five outcomes and how these will be achieved.

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall is a member of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board and therefore subscribes to the South West Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures, www.swcpp.org.uk

Policy Objectives

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall and affiliated organisations collect, analyse, monitor and review a wide range of data associated with safeguarding objectives arising from the outcomes listed above and report on a range of these objectives to the Children‟s Trust and regional and national government.

For this policy to be effective it is essential that each person or agency has an understanding of what safeguarding is, knows that “safeguarding is everyone‟s responsibility”, knows how to access safeguarding information, knows of any likely contribution that they may be required to make to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults and how to access further advice, support or services.

Equality and Diversity

This policy should be read with LGBTQ Youth Cornwall Equality and Diversity Policy and Equal Opportunity Policy. Equality is based on the idea of fairness whilst recognising that everyone is different, and diversity is about the ways in which people differ and about recognising that differences are a natural part of society. LGBTQ Youth Cornwall expects that all elected members, staff and volunteers who come into contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults treat them as individuals and make them feel respected and valued as an essential part of our commitment to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. For more information contact the chair of trustees.

1. All staff, trustees and volunteers are committed to the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, that they demonstrate leadership, are informed about and take responsibility for the actions of people who provide services to children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers at all levels.

This means:

taking responsibility for monitoring the actions of staff to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults Ensuring that children, young people and vulnerable adults are listened to appropriately, and Taking appropriate action regarding any concerns expressed about their welfare All members of staff and volunteers who are employed by or on behalf of the [name of organisation]authority, and who have contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers, will have a clear understanding of the [name of organisation] responsibilities for safeguarding. A statement of the[ name of organisation‟s]responsibilities towards children, young people and vulnerable adults will be available to all staff; this will include effective systems to ensure that complaints about non-compliance with safeguarding procedures and policies can be made by children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and other people - and that they receive an appropriate response.

2. LGBTQ Youth Cornwall has clear lines of accountability in relation to its work in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and delegated decision-making.

This means:

Eric Jacobs, LADO, is accountable for ensuring that satisfactory arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, on behalf of LGBTQ Youth Cornwall. We have a designated person for child protection who is trained to CAMAT Tier 3. Currently this person is Kate Sicolo, Chair of Trustees. This senior manager takes strategic responsibility for safeguarding arrangements within the LGBTQ Youth Cornwall. This includes strategic responsibility for safer recruitment, ongoing safer employment, including training and the management of allegations, the monitoring of safeguarding arrangements and the management and support of other named staff who have safeguarding roles and who are trained and able to provide advice on procedure in relation to appropriately passing on concerns relating to children, young people, vulnerable adults and staff.

Providing Services

All policies and services take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults; and so far as possible will be informed by the views of children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers. We provide services for young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or who are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender role. We recognise that statistically there are many areas in which this group are especially vulnerable and as such recognise the heightened responsibility of the group to provide outstanding safeguarding work for our young people.

This means:

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall, in collaboration with its partners, will provide a range of services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring that services to children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers are provided safely and effectively, and are accessible.

Multi-agency working - Working Together

Good interagency and multi-disciplinary working is promoted and maintained both within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall and with other organisations. Standards of practice in work with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers are regularly reviewed in line with relevant national Guidance.

This means:

Ensuring that the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board is provided with appropriate support to carry out its duties in partnership with other local organisations in Cornwall. Commissioned organisations providing services to children, young people, vulnerable adults, their families or carers and to schools will demonstrate standards of safeguarding compliant with those of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board. Information is shared efficiently and effectively in respect of issues that may affect the safety and welfare of children, young people or vulnerable adults. Clear protocols are in place and understood by staff, so ensuring that information is shared appropriately and as the law prescribes. Concerns are shared early in order to prevent any problems escalating.

Staff Awareness

This means:

That all staff employed by LGBTQ Youth Cornwall who have access to children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers, and those who have access to sensitive information, will have induction and on-going training so that they know of the appropriate procedures and personnel in place, and of their role in responding to concerns about children, young people, vulnerable adults and other safeguarding matters. Additionally, line management and/or supervision is in place to appropriately support staff. LGBTQ Youth Cornwall will ensure that every member of staff and trustee knows how to seek advice and report any concern about a child, young person or vulnerable adult. Individual responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults will be encompassed within relevant job descriptions and procedures. All paid staff will be trained to CAMAT tier 2 standard, the lead worker will be trained to CAMAT tier 3 standard. If staff do not hold such a qualification upon

recruitment, we will ensure that such training is undertaken as a priority, and definitely within 6 months of employment. We will ensure that such training is refreshed every two years. All trustees, members of the advisory committee and volunteers will be trained to CAMAT Tier 1 standard as part of their induction. All trustees will be offered in-house Tier 2 training which they may undertake if they wish.

Safe Employment

Robust procedures are in place to ensure that staff who have access to children, young people and vulnerable adults or access to sensitive information about children, young people and vulnerable adults are employed safely.

This means:

There is a culture throughout LGBTQ Youth Cornwall that enables safeguarding issues to be addressed. Recruitment and vetting procedures prevent unsuitable people from having contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Staff who work or have contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers have appropriate safeguarding and safe working practices training, including induction, consistent with their role and function. This training will reflect the necessity for effective multi-agency and inter-professional working – both within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall and with other organisations. The content and standard of this training will be approved by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board. Safe working practices are promoted and poor and unsafe practice is challenged Allegations or concerns about staff relating to children or young people are handled effectively and in accordance with „Working Together to Safeguard Children‟,) 6.24, Appendix 5 (DCSF2006) and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board management of allegations procedures, www.safechildren-cios.co.uk Effective arrangements such as a whistle blowing policy, which explicitly describes arrangements for sharing concerns about the behaviour of colleagues and other members of staff are described at induction and training and well-publicised by LGBTQ Youth Cornwall to its employees.

References:

1. Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF, 2006)

2. Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (DCSF,

2007)

3. What to do if you‟re Worried a Child is Being Abused (DCSF, 2006)

4. If this were my child-A Councillor‟s Guide to being a good corporate

parent (DfES 2003)

5. Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children

We want to ensure that your needs are met, if you would like this information on audio tape, in Braille, large print, any other format or interpreted in a language other than English, please contact the Equality and Diversity Officer, Telephone: 0300 12340 100 or Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Purpose of Policy

To set out the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in Cornwall and how this will be implemented by LGBTQ Youth Cornwall in the discharge of its duties.

Policy Statement

This policy supports the development of procedures and good practice within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall, to ensure that each person and agency can demonstrate that there is an understanding of the duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. It provides evidence of how this will be implemented within its own organisation and within multi-agency working arrangements.

This safeguarding policy:

shows how we intend to meet its safeguarding responsibilities promotes best practice within the organisation. reflects the national context of safeguarding and of current central Government expectations, is in line with, and in some cases exceeds, all elements of national Guidance, in order to provide uniformly high standards across the workforce and to place the organisation at the forefront of safeguarding good practice. provides a generic statement of values and key principles which demonstrates to all the commitment of the organisation broadly describes the activities in which we will be involved to meet its responsibilities. will be common to all member organisations of the LSCB, therefore providing for common approaches, training and understanding. sets a standard which LGBTQ Youth Cornwall will require all organisations with which it does relevant business to meet.

Policy Application

This policy applies to all members of staff of LGBTQ Youth Cornwall, trustees and volunteers and all those organisations who have a working relationship with the LGBTQ Youth Cornwall.

This policy is only effective when used in conjunction with the following internal documents

Dealing with Disclosures

Escalating Child Protection Concerns

Active Safeguarding within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall

Author

LSCB Performance Manager

Introduction - Safeguarding Children and Young People

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is as defined in Chapter 3 of the statutory guidance to the Children Act 2004, „Working Together to Safeguard Children‟, (DCSF 2006)

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall recognises that, under the Children Act 2004, it has a statutory duty to make arrangements to ensure all its functions are discharged, having regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in Cornwall – this includes all services directly provided and those commissioned by the local authority.

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall subscribes to the „Statutory Guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004‟ www.everychildmatters.gov.uk in underpinning “work with individual children and their families” and the “monitoring and inspection of arrangements to safeguard and promote welfare”

“Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children” means: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of their health or development; ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; Enabling them to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully.

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall aims to ensure that children in Cornwall achieve the five outcomes for children identified in the Children Act 2004.

The five outcomes are:

Be Healthy – physical and mental health and emotional well-being Stay Safe – prevention and protection from harm and neglect Enjoy and Achieve – education, training and recreation Make a positive contribution to society Achieve Economic and Social Well-being.

The following principles will underpin all of our work with children and young people. Our approach will be:

child centred rooted in child development support the achievement of best possible outcomes for children holistic in approach ensure equality of opportunity actively involve children and families build on strengths as well as identifying and addressing difficulties be multi/inter-agency in approach be a continuing process rather than an event be designed to identify and provide the service required, and to monitor the impact its provision has on a child‟s developmental progress be informed by evidence.

The Cornwall Children and Young People‟s Plan (2005 – 2008, Update 2006, revised 2009) describes the strategic priorities that member agencies will address in relation to the five outcomes and how these will be achieved.

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall is a member of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board and therefore subscribes to the South West Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures, www.swcpp.org.uk

Policy Objectives

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall and affiliated organisations collect, analyse, monitor and review a wide range of data associated with safeguarding objectives arising from the outcomes listed above and report on a range of these objectives to the Children‟s Trust and regional and national government.

For this policy to be effective it is essential that each person or agency has an understanding of what safeguarding is, knows that “safeguarding is everyone‟s responsibility”, knows how to access safeguarding information, knows of any likely contribution that they may be required to make to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults and how to access further advice, support or services.

Equality and Diversity

This policy should be read with LGBTQ Youth Cornwall Equality and Diversity Policy and Equal Opportunity Policy. Equality is based on the idea of fairness whilst recognising that everyone is different, and diversity is about the ways in which people differ and about recognising that differences are a natural part of society. LGBTQ Youth Cornwall expects that all elected members, staff and volunteers who come into contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults treat them as individuals and make them feel respected and valued as an essential part of our commitment to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. For more information contact the chair of trustees.

1. All staff, trustees and volunteers are committed to the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, that they demonstrate leadership, are informed about and take responsibility for the actions of people who provide services to children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers at all levels.

This means:

taking responsibility for monitoring the actions of staff to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults Ensuring that children, young people and vulnerable adults are listened to appropriately, and Taking appropriate action regarding any concerns expressed about their welfare All members of staff and volunteers who are employed by or on behalf of the [name of organisation]authority, and who have contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers, will have a clear understanding of the [name of organisation] responsibilities for safeguarding. A statement of the[ name of organisation‟s]responsibilities towards children, young people and vulnerable adults will be available to all staff; this will include effective systems to ensure that complaints about non-compliance with safeguarding procedures and policies can be made by children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and other people - and that they receive an appropriate response.

2. LGBTQ Youth Cornwall has clear lines of accountability in relation to its work in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and delegated decision-making.

This means:

Eric Jacobs, LADO, is accountable for ensuring that satisfactory arrangements are in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, on behalf of LGBTQ Youth Cornwall. We have a designated person for child protection who is trained to CAMAT Tier 3. Currently this person is Kate Sicolo, Chair of Trustees. This senior manager takes strategic responsibility for safeguarding arrangements within the LGBTQ Youth Cornwall. This includes strategic responsibility for safer recruitment, ongoing safer employment, including training and the management of allegations, the monitoring of safeguarding arrangements and the management and support of other named staff who have safeguarding roles and who are trained and able to provide advice on procedure in relation to appropriately passing on concerns relating to children, young people, vulnerable adults and staff.

Providing Services

All policies and services take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults; and so far as possible will be informed by the views of children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers. We provide services for young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or who are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender role. We recognise that statistically there are many areas in which this group are especially vulnerable and as such recognise the heightened responsibility of the group to provide outstanding safeguarding work for our young people.

This means:

LGBTQ Youth Cornwall, in collaboration with its partners, will provide a range of services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring that services to children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers are provided safely and effectively, and are accessible.

Multi-agency working - Working Together

Good interagency and multi-disciplinary working is promoted and maintained both within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall and with other organisations. Standards of practice in work with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers are regularly reviewed in line with relevant national Guidance.

This means:

Ensuring that the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board is provided with appropriate support to carry out its duties in partnership with other local organisations in Cornwall. Commissioned organisations providing services to children, young people, vulnerable adults, their families or carers and to schools will demonstrate standards of safeguarding compliant with those of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board. Information is shared efficiently and effectively in respect of issues that may affect the safety and welfare of children, young people or vulnerable adults. Clear protocols are in place and understood by staff, so ensuring that information is shared appropriately and as the law prescribes. Concerns are shared early in order to prevent any problems escalating.

Staff Awareness

This means:

That all staff employed by LGBTQ Youth Cornwall who have access to children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers, and those who have access to sensitive information, will have induction and on-going training so that they know of the appropriate procedures and personnel in place, and of their role in responding to concerns about children, young people, vulnerable adults and other safeguarding matters. Additionally, line management and/or supervision is in place to appropriately support staff. LGBTQ Youth Cornwall will ensure that every member of staff and trustee knows how to seek advice and report any concern about a child, young person or vulnerable adult. Individual responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults will be encompassed within relevant job descriptions and procedures. All paid staff will be trained to CAMAT tier 2 standard, the lead worker will be trained to CAMAT tier 3 standard. If staff do not hold such a qualification upon

recruitment, we will ensure that such training is undertaken as a priority, and definitely within 6 months of employment. We will ensure that such training is refreshed every two years. All trustees, members of the advisory committee and volunteers will be trained to CAMAT Tier 1 standard as part of their induction. All trustees will be offered in-house Tier 2 training which they may undertake if they wish.

Safe Employment

Robust procedures are in place to ensure that staff who have access to children, young people and vulnerable adults or access to sensitive information about children, young people and vulnerable adults are employed safely.

This means:

There is a culture throughout LGBTQ Youth Cornwall that enables safeguarding issues to be addressed. Recruitment and vetting procedures prevent unsuitable people from having contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Staff who work or have contact with children, young people, vulnerable adults and their families or carers have appropriate safeguarding and safe working practices training, including induction, consistent with their role and function. This training will reflect the necessity for effective multi-agency and inter-professional working – both within LGBTQ Youth Cornwall and with other organisations. The content and standard of this training will be approved by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board. Safe working practices are promoted and poor and unsafe practice is challenged Allegations or concerns about staff relating to children or young people are handled effectively and in accordance with „Working Together to Safeguard Children‟,) 6.24, Appendix 5 (DCSF2006) and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Safeguarding Children Board management of allegations procedures, www.safechildren-cios.co.uk Effective arrangements such as a whistle blowing policy, which explicitly describes arrangements for sharing concerns about the behaviour of colleagues and other members of staff are described at induction and training and well-publicised by LGBTQ Youth Cornwall to its employees.

References:

1. Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF, 2006)

2. Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (DCSF,

2007)

3. What to do if you‟re Worried a Child is Being Abused (DCSF, 2006)

4. If this were my child-A Councillor‟s Guide to being a good corporate

parent (DfES 2003)

5. Guidance for Safer Working Practice for Adults who work with Children